Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-01-25
THE WEST VIRGINIA PENITEN-
TIARN.


The biennial report of the Board OF Di-
rectors of the West Virginia Penitentiary
shows that there were in custody on Sept.
80, 1~-6, males 800, females 10. OF these
195 were assigned to work on contracts and
"A unassigned. Kauawha county has the
largest representation, -. ohio county
comes next with -, and Berkeley next,
with Il. OF the 80 from Eanaw IN, hut :
can read and write.
During the year Of l~~6 there were lOl
prisoners received at the Penitrutiary.
OF these the largest number, 81 were COM
mitted for grand larceny. The average
term of service is little over three years
and eleven months. Thirty-thrCe of the
number committed, the largest number,
were between 20 and - years OF age. The
number Of deaths in the two years was
thirty-one, the majority OF which was by
lung diseases.
The average expense OF the prison
for 1SS5 WAS $112.s2 per day;
for lSs6, SHOT, per day. The average
expense for each convict for the year 1855
was Sl4I.6S; for 1~S6, Sl33.9G. The daily
dietary cost of each convict tor lSS6 was
lOl cents. The total expense for the year
1885 WAS 81, lis; for lSS6, $40, 423. The
yearly receipts from the convict contracts
was about $50, 900, leaving about $40, 900
to be appropriated 10y the State
The Superintendent recommends that
Mt least ten acres Of ground he purchased
for garden in which some of the convicts
may be- employed to raise vegetables for
the prison. The building OF more cells
and the providing Of better ventilation for
the cell rooms are asked. Several recon-
mendatiouS for the improvement OF the
buildings are made by the Board Of Direc-
tors. 1t is also recommended that the
Superintendent aud his suboriiuates he
appointed by the Directors.
The Directors have been meeting with
much difficulty in finding employment
for the convicts. There are now thirty or
more convicts available for contracts
for whom no bidders can he
found. The Webster Wagon Com
pany was at the time the report was COM
piled, 81, O92 in arrears to the State, being
unable, it is claimed, of meeting the pay
ments owing TO the dullneSs Of trade.
And now having 50 many wagons ON hand,
the company petitions that the price paid
for the convict labor he reduced.
These areGueStiOns that demand the care
full attention Of the Legislature. The con-
victs must be employed at something. To
keep them in idleneSs would he both in
furious and cruel to them, and an addi-
tional and unnecessary burden TO the tax
payers. Superintendent PECE's recon-
mendatlon that small farm be bought
on which to employ some of the eOnvicts
to raise provisions for the Others is q good
one. The bill introduced into the House
by Delegate J. p. JONES, providing
that some of the conyicts should
be employed in making clothing
for their fellow conviets and for the in
mates of the insane asylum and for other
persons supported by the State also de-
serves attention. Then there is the build
ing of public highways throughout the
State, that we have often spoken Of before.
IL will be impossible to employ the con-
yicts in such way that some people will
not grumble. But it looks like no class of
peoule would have much ground for dissat-